Levante 2-3 Barcelona: Luuk de Jong snatches last gasp winner

Luuk de Jong did it, in the end, and even Ronald Koeman would have smiled. The Dutch forward, mocked in some quarters when Barcelona signed him, was decisive to earn Barcelona three points at Ciutat de Valencia.

That’s no small thing either, given Barcelona’s struggles at Levante in the past. And here the hosts had three penalties given to them.

Jose Luis Morales fired them ahead from the spot after Dani Alves tangled with Son, although he might have scored before, with a brilliant run in from the left.

The veteran winger beat Araujo but Ter Stegen saved his effort and Eric Garcia, who excelled, cleared it off the line.

Levante nearly doubled their lead but Ter Stegen saved Roger Marti’s penalty after Eric’s handball in the box. And then came the comeback.

With Pedri and Gavi on for the ineffectual Nico Gonzalez, and Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona improved.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, starved of service in the first half, headed home from Ousmane Dembele’s cross for his eighth La Liga goal in nine games. 

Then Gavi bewitched the Levante defence and set up Pedri, who finished well, his third goal in the last few games. He’s learned how to score.

There was time for another Levante penalty, with Gonzalo Melero netting to level. It looked up for Barca, but who was there? Yes, Luuk de Jong. He nodded home Alves’ cross to end a thrilling second half and keep Barcelona in second place.